A former nursery worker in the United Kingdom is due to be sentenced on Thursday after admitting to dozens of child sexual abuse offences, sparking renewed calls for tighter safeguarding measures in childcare centres nationwide.
Vincent Chan, 45, confessed to 56 criminal counts, including the sexual assault of four young girls aged three and four at a north London nursery between 2022 and 2024. He is scheduled to receive his sentence at Wood Green Crown Court.
The case has intensified pressure on the UK government to strengthen protections in early-years facilities.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed on Wednesday that consultations are underway on making closed-circuit television (CCTV) compulsory in nurseries following a rise in similar abuse cases.
“These are deeply distressing incidents. The safety of children must come first, and we are taking steps to ensure they are protected,” Starmer told Parliament.
Investigators revealed that Chan secretly recorded himself abusing the children during nap times at the daycare centre. He also admitted to downloading thousands of indecent images involving minors.
Prior to his nursery employment, Chan worked at a north London school between 2007 and 2017, where he was found to have filmed up young girls’ skirts and recorded sexual acts on school premises.
Authorities confirmed that he continued taking indecent images of children even after leaving both institutions.
Metropolitan Police officer Lewis Basford, who led the investigation, described Chan as “a dangerous and predatory individual,” noting that he deliberately sought roles that gave him access to young girls.
“His pattern of behaviour shows how he exploited positions of trust to offend for many years without detection,” Basford said.
Chan admitted his offending dated back to 2011.
Families of victims from the now-closed Bright Horizons nursery said they were “sickened” by the revelations, questioning how safeguarding systems failed so badly.
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According to law firm Leigh Day, about 50 families have joined legal action against the nursery provider, accusing it of ignoring warning signs.
The sentencing comes just days after another UK nursery worker, Nathan Bennett, was convicted in Bristol of multiple sexual offences against five boys aged two and three.
Bennett was arrested after a nursery manager spotted suspicious behaviour on CCTV footage.
Both cases have reignited national debate over childcare safety standards, with campaigners urging stricter monitoring, improved staff vetting, and mandatory surveillance to prevent future abuse.